Black Tea Could Lower Your Diabetes Risk

Countries with high black tea consumption have lower type 2 diabetes rates, compared to other nations, researchers reported in BMJ Open today. The authors carried out a mathematical analysis of data from fifty different nations.

Worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes
has risen six-fold over the past twenty-five years. By 2030, there will
be approximately 438 million people with the disease, compared to 285
million in 2010, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Previous studies have linked black tea consumption to several health benefits. Notably, a Scottish study published in Aging Cell in March 2008 appears to concur with the findings of this research in concluding that black tea may help combat type 2 diabetes.

The researchers gathered and analyzed data provided by Data Mining
International on fermented black tea consumption in 50 countries. The
data, which was based on 2009 sales, included nations in every
continent.

They also analyzed data provided by WHO (World Health Organization) and focused on the prevalence of the following diseases:

Respiratory diseases

Infectious diseases

Cardiovascular diseases

Cancer

Diabetes

Black tea accounts for over 90 percent of tea sold in the Western world.

Ireland is the biggest tea drinker per head in the world, with
consumption at 2kg per year per person, the United Kingdom came a close
second, and then Turkey. The lowest black tea consumers were Mexico,
Morocco, China, Brazil and South Korea.

With the use of PCA (principal component analysis), a type of
statistical approach, they managed to find out what impact black tea
consumption had on the health indicators selected at the population
level.

They found that black tea affected diabetes rates, but not the other diseases.

After further analysis, they were able to confirm their initial findings
regarding high black tea consumption and lower type 2 diabetes
prevalence.

The authors emphasized that the quality and consistency of the
information among the 50 nations probably varied, as well as the
criteria internationally used for diagnosing diabetes. "And what may
seem positive at the population level may not work as well as the
individual level," they wrote.

Even so, their findings support those from prior studies.

The authors wrote:

"These original study results are consistent with previous biological,
physiological, and ecological studies conducted on the potential of
[black tea] on diabetes and obesity"...and they provide "valuable additional scientific information at the global level."

The scientific community has become increasingly interested in the
potential health benefits of green tea, which contains catechins (simple
flavonoids). Catechins are believed to have anti-inflammatory
properties.

Green tea turns into black tea during the fermentation process.
Fermentation induces a range of complex flavonoids, such as thearubigins
and theaflavins, which have also been attributed with several health
benefits.